By: Tyler Scott, SOU Sports Information Director
Box Score
KIRKLAND, Wash. – Southern Oregon fell behind by 18 points midway through the first half, and the Raiders' second-half runs fell short as No. 12 Northwest defeated SOU 87-73 in Cascade Collegiate Conference men's basketball action Saturday night.
The loss drops SOU's record to 13-7 overall and 6-3 in conference play midway through the 2011-12 CCC season. Northwest improves to 17-2 overall and 7-2 in the CCC. The Raiders return to action Jan. 20, when they will return home to host College of Idaho to open the second half of the conference season.
Jordan Highland (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin) led SOU with 20 points and 10 rebounds and added three assists.
Eric Thompson (Roseburg, Ore./Roseburg) finished with 17 points for the Raiders, and
Kyle Tedder (Coos Bay, Ore./Marshfield) added 15 in the loss.
Five Northwest players reached double figures in the scoring column, highlighted by Tyler Mendezona's 19 points. Michael Green scored 18 on perfect 7-of-7 shooting. Jordan Call finished with 15 points, Ahmaad Cook tallied 13 and Rich Skillman added 11.
With the score tied at 13-13, Northwest began a 21-3 run that gave the Eagles a 34-16 lead with just minutes remaining in the first half. Thompson hit a three-pointer to end the Eagles' run, and the Raiders pulled within 10 points to go into the break trailing 43-33.
Southern Oregon had a couple chances early in the second half, as the Raiders scored the first four points out of the break to pull within six. Tedder's three-pointer four minutes into the second half made it 47-43, but the Raiders could not get closer than that.
Northwest used a 14-point streak to turn a slim 55-50 advantage into a 19-point lead with just under seven minutes remaining. From that point the Eagles coasted to the 14-point victory.
The Eagles shot 57.4 percent (31-of-54) from the field in the contest, while limiting SOU to 41.7 percent (25-of-60).
